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It felt good. Just being beside him seemed to lift some of the weight off my shoulders. Even though his Choice was the reason all this had happened in the first place.
He released my hand and I folded both neatly into my lap, then I turned my attention back out to the crowd. The band began to play a jaunty song but no dancing began. Instead, Lord Nylander approached the dais.
“Lady Reyna,” he said, “I am honored to have been a part of this Choice. You have performed honorably and earned your seat by the king’s side.”
“Thank you,” I said.
Lord Nylander swept into a bow. From his pinched expression, I could tell it had taken a lot of effort for him to say that—especially since I knew the council had chosen Adora.
After him, Lady Marin stepped up and offered similar sentiments. I thanked her as well.
And then Lord Elfriede and Lady Oleta. And Lady Glennis. And Cyran. And Roth.
Then other court members, ones I didn’t know, began to step forward and introduce themselves. They offered congratulations, and small tokens: elegant jewelry, ornately embroidered handkerchiefs, fine chocolates.
Quickly, it all began to run together. The words “thank you, I’m honored, you’re so kind,” quickly lost any meaning in my mind. By the time I had finished all the requisite greetings, I was exhausted and desperately in need of a glass of wine. My father had not moved from his own seat at a table across the room. He was fixated more on the brandy in front of him as he made idle conversation with some of the other guests. He did not look happy to be in the room at all—our last talk hung over me like a thundercloud.
“I need some fresh air,” I said to the king. “I’ll be just a moment.”
He tilted his head. “Of course.” I’d half-expected him to stop me, but he only pulled his cloak off his shoulders and wound it around mine instead. It was bigger than my cloaks, heavier, and the fur lining seemed to carry his familiar scent just like his wolf’s pelt did.
I wasn’t sure if that was theater or care, but I was grateful for the warmth, and my wolf settled at his closeness. I stood up and hurried down the steps to the dais. Across the room, I caught Fina’s eye and nodded subtly toward the balcony. Fina beamed, then took Adora’s wrist. Adora was mid-conversation with one of the guests, who looked mildly irritated by the interruption. Adora’s expression did not brighten as Fina’s had, but she glanced toward me and nodded.
I stepped onto the balcony and pulled the king’s cloak tighter around my shoulders against the biting air. It was a beautiful, freezing cold night, and my breath emerged in clouds of steam. I was getting used to the temperatures though. I found it almost refreshing now. Did that come with the knowledge that I had never belonged to Daybreak at all? Did the new realization that I was by blood a wolf of Starcrest make it easier to bear the cold?
Fina and Adora stepped out onto the balcony and pulled the door shut behind them. Both were bundled in their heavy cloaks as well, and Fina’s looked like it was pulled directly from Adora’s own wardrobe. She immediately rushed forward and pulled me into a hard hug.
“Oh, Reyna,” Fina said. “Are you well? I’m so sorry about the challenge. It must’ve been awful to watch.”
Grief twinged in my chest like I’d been struck, but it wasn’t as overwhelming as it was a few days ago. I nodded. “Thank you,” I said. “Griffin was—I’ve learned some things about him since then. Things are complicated.”
Adora folded her arms over her chest. Her blue eyes shone as she watched me and Fina, like she was unsure of how to proceed.
“You two are my most cherished friends,” I said. “I don’t want to lose you. Adora, you know this isn’t—this isn’t what I wanted. What either of us wanted. I know you’d make a more deserving queen than me.”
Her frown only deepened. “That doesn’t exactly make me feel better.”
“It’s not like we had a say in it,” Fina said. “Our fates were always in the king’s hands.”
“It’s just not fair,” Adora said. She sighed, like she realized how petulant it sounded even as she was saying it. “I was so sure. Everyone in Starcrest knew there would eventually be a Choice, and I was primed to compete in it since I was a little girl. This was supposed to be my future. I failed my pack.”
“You didn’t fail,” I said. I stepped closer to her. I didn’t know if telling her the truth would make it better or worse, but I didn’t want any lies between us. “The council chose you, Adora. You proved yourself over and over. The king overrode them for me.”
She exhaled a small laugh, then gazed up toward the moon like she couldn’t believe it. “They did, huh?”
I nodded. “They really did. I know they want to maintain a good relationship with Starcrest. I’d love for you—and you too, Fina—to stay in Efra as members of the court. I’ll need all the advisement I can get if I am to be queen. I don’t know what I’m doing in the slightest.”
Fina clapped her hands together. “Yes!” she said immediately. “I’d love to. My brother is heir to the Duskmoon Court. I’d much rather stay in Efra and build a legacy of my own. Perhaps bag a viscount while I’m at it.”
That made Adora laugh again, and she nodded in agreement. “Better stay and remain on the court than return and marry a boring wolf of Starcrest.”
Having members of other packs on my court would be good for my reputation, as well. If the king wanted to establish better relations to lead Frasia, this was one way to begin. Some of my anxiety released, knowing that Fina and Adora would stay. Being queen wasn’t going to be easy, but having their guidance and support would make it just a little bit easier.
“Listen,” I said. “There’s something else I need to tell you.”
In the freezing cold air on the balcony, I did my best to explain what had happened. Griffin’s betrayal, my father’s role in their attempted coup, and the prophecy.
“I don’t understand.” Adora furrowed her brow. “How could you be a daughter of Starcrest? You’ve spent your life in Daybreak.”
